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Professor exempt of new felon rules
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by Cassie Kornblau
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Rules planned to assist University of Wisconsin System campuses in firing professors for criminal behavior would not go into effect in time to be used against a history professor accused of possessing child pornography, a UW System official said Monday.
The Board of Regents constructed rules about how the system should respond to criminal activity on campus after three UW professors were convicted of felonies in 2005.
UW System spokesperson David Giroux said the regents decided to implement a new policy that places professors on unpaid leave if they commit a criminal offense.
However, Giroux said the new rules would not go into effect until July 1, and Michael Forest — the UW-Stevens Point professor charged with child pornography — will not be affected by the new policy.
Under state law, UW institutions cannot fire faculty based on felony convictions. A new set of guidelines and changes approved by the regents went forward to the state, Giroux said, and the state Legislature just signed off on it last month.
Despite the restrictions, Giroux said UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Linda Bunnell is moving aggressively under the current framework and suspended Forest from campus last week.
"The chancellor is committed to making sure that our students and any other visitors to campus are safe," Giroux said. "I think it demonstrates that she is being as assertive as she possibly can."
As the incident unfolded, Giroux said the UW System went out of its way to remind legislators of the issue's progress, and added the timeline is something the university has no control over.
State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said the Board of Regents needs to institute a policy immediately, adding the regents have dragged their feet on this issue for two years since it first came out that there were professors at UW-Madison convicted of felonies.
"This individual should not be paid if he has been charged with this crime," Suder said. "No way on earth should taxpayers be paying a salary for an individual who is a pedophile. This is absolutely atrocious."
Suder said legislators are challenging the regents to reform this issue, and said if they do not take action, "We will force the board to do so."
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 9:16am):
Notice how seamlessly Sudder moved from charge to conviction in his quotes?
I agree that those arrested for such crimes should be suspended - but what if they are found innocent?
So if I read this article right - the UW did exactly what Sudder demanded but he still managed to land sound bites that suggest the UW is not taking appropriate action. Frankly, I am not too happy that my tax dollars pay Sudder's salary either (or his per diems, or his accumulated sick leave).
Anonymous (April 25, 2007 @ 7:53pm):
Those charged should not be fired...only those convicted. How can Suder be so stupid?
Also, to the headling writer: People aren't "exempt of," they are "exempt from."
Anonymous (April 26, 2007 @ 3:08pm):
Well, it's true that Forest has not been convicted yet, but Suder's point is that UW needs to get these reforms in place right now. A new budget is pending, and UW won't do well if it continues to delay these needed changes.
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